Curtiss Hemm serves up a fried onion burger to please most any dad this Father's Day | NCPR News

Jun 04, 2025 —

We’re serving up a dish to please most any dad for Father’s Day: fried onion burgers.

It’s an Oklahoman classic, and Curtiss Hemm says it's easy to put your own spin on it.

Hemm is the executive chef at the View restaurant at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid and the founder of the Carriage House Cooking School in Peru, outside of Plattsburgh.

He checks in with Northern Light co-hosts Monica Sandreczki and Catherine Wheeler every month to share a seasonal recipe using as many ingredients from North Country farms as possible.

Find their interview and the recipe below!

Monica SandreczkiCurtiss Hemm serves up a fried onion burger to please most any dad this Father's Day

Fried Onion Burger

2 cups thinly sliced white onions1 teaspoon kosher salt1 pound ground beef1 pinch kosher salt1 pinch freshly ground black pepper4 medium burger buns4 tablespoons mustard

1. Preheat a griddle for about 5 minutes on medium heat.

2. While the griddle is heating, form the burgers by dividing the beef into 4 equal portions. Press the burger together into a small ball, just until meat holds its shape without falling apart. Season on all sides with salt and pepper.

3. Place four small stacks of onions on the griddle and top each one with a ball of burger meat. Using a firm, stiff metal spatula, or tile trowel, press down on each one until they're roughly 3 to 3 1/2-inches in diameter and 1/2-inch thick.

4. Cook without moving until the onions are a golden brown color and a crust develops on the burger. Use the edge of the spatula to scrape up and flip the patties one at a time, making sure to get all browned bits removed from the skillet.

5. Continue to cook until patties are cooked to desired doneness—about 30 seconds longer for medium rare.

6. Serve burgers, onion side up on soft buns with mustard.